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External HDD

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External HDD

zanes

zanes

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All,

First post outside the 500 forum, so please be gentle!

Bought myself a DSLR as a chrimbo/new year present. Loving it already (got over 1000 actuations already :rolleyes: ) but it is presenting me with a storage problem- My per-photo size has gone from ~3.2 mb with my compact to over 7mb with this. If I get into RAW it'll be well over 20mb per shot.

Obviously, this means I'm gonna be pushing the system hard drive hard so I'm in the market for some external storage- something I have no experience in. I'll be looking for in the region of 1Tb of space initially. Any advice on prices, brands to go for/avoid etc? Got a USB2.0 card in the PC and a firewire card, but I'd prefer to stay with USB if possible
 
Plenty around, and I've yet to hear any horror stories. Of course, back in the tape days everyone used to say that backing up to hard drive was crazy, and there's a sense in which that's still right.

I have a 500Gig Medion one (it was very cheap at the time) and it trots on merrily enough.

If I had the money, I think I'd buy two: one for regular access, one for weekly back ups. But then I'd have to organise myself.........
 
I run a 2TB Western Digital Mybook, which has automated backup software on the drives / files types I want it to backup.

About £140 in Amazon, although I won mine for free :eek:
 
The only data I 'really' need to backup (pron not counted :D ) is safely backed up on a USB stick (16Gb) which I consider to be more reliable than a HDD.
 
kellys_eye said:
The only data I 'really' need to backup (pron not counted :D ) is safely backed up on a USB stick (16Gb) which I consider to be more reliable than a HDD.
Click to expand...
I also use off-site backups as well as my external HDD :) fully automated.

I use it through Barclays, but I am certain VM customers get this free - you may need to be on XL or XXL BB though.
 
Thanks all, glad to know they're aren't any "good" brands to run and hide from. Next payday think I'll be investing in one.

The only data I 'really' need to backup (pron not counted :D ) is safely backed up on a USB stick (16Gb) which I consider to be more reliable than a HDD.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's where my documents are currently backed up. Unfortunately 16Gb just won't cut it with these photos.
 
arc said:
how is data on a usb stick safer than on a HDD?

does it have to be external?
Click to expand...

No moving parts!
Removable (therefore can be protected from theft and/or electrical damage)
Shock-proof

Most HDD problems (in my experience of three HDD's) come from a failure of the platter motor drive circuitry. Fine if you can get a replacement control board from an identical drive - I did once but you can't always though.

You could keep a USB drive permanently connected but after my recent lighning strike loss of my PC I'm glad I had the USB stick in my pocket....
 
I've got 2x1Tb SATA drives in mirrored RAID for my storage and "backup" needs :)
 
I have an Iomega Desk Drive. Think it hold 500GB, but I did get it well over a year ago. Just plugs into the USB and I can drag and drop files to it like my USB pen drives.

Are you looking for something portable or one to stay put? Take a look at the reviews on Amazon. Theres a Seagate on with 1TB thats has 225 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars.
 
Go for a Lacie, can't go wrong! Ive got 5 of them :) - Iomegas tend not to be as reliable, but the mrs has just bought one (as she doesnt like listening to me) and it seems ok.
 
Just make sure you backup! I bought an Epson P2000 expensive but good :) Thinking of upgrading the HDD in mine :) 2 1tb HDD's are probably cheaper than a P3000 though :(
 
zanes said:
You seen this discussion Maxi? I guess the 200 would be similar?

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1023&thread=23542566
Click to expand...
Yeah my 2000 was only a 40gb one.

I really like my p2000 though, I bought it for when I went to Finland for the WRC event in 2005 and all I took was 2x1gb cards and as soon as I filled one card up I put it in the P2000 and saved all the photos to it and used my other card, it was either that or buy a laptop and that was more expensive and more awkward to use at the side of a rally stage!
 
kellys_eye said:
No moving parts!
Removable (therefore can be protected from theft and/or electrical damage)
Shock-proof
Click to expand...
On the other hand you're unlikely to leave a hard drive in your pocket when your clothes go in the wash!
I've had 4 USB keys go wrong on me so far.
 
MissR said:
Are you looking for something portable or one to stay put? Take a look at the reviews on Amazon. Theres a Seagate on with 1TB thats has 225 reviews and an average of 4.5 stars.
Click to expand...

I have a Seagate 500GB external USB drive. Works a charm. The automated backup software does have a bug in it though that means it reports errors if you do more than 10 backups in a row. Seagate don't seem to be able to offer a solution :bang:
 
hmallett said:
On the other hand you're unlikely to leave a hard drive in your pocket when your clothes go in the wash!
I've had 4 USB keys go wrong on me so far.
Click to expand...
The other great thing about USB sticks is that if they go they go and they will go without warning usually and you've got a snowballs chance in hell of getting the data back. Magnetic storage on the other hand.....
 
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